John Franklin-Myers makes statement in return vs. Jets

Here’s a look at which stock improved or declined after the Broncos’ 10-9 win over the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon.

Stock Up

OLB Nik Bonitto: Denver’s third-year outside linebacker attacked Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers with ease. New York faced a third-and-6 in the second quarter when Bonitto flew off the edge to bring down Rodgers. Left tackle Tyron Smith didn’t stand a chance. Bonitto finished with a sack and a couple of pressures against New York. The most impressive thing about the performance was his run defense. The Jets were pinned at their own 1-yard line when Bonitto and defensive end John Franklin-Myers came together to tackle running back Breece Hall. Bonitto took it upon himself to improve as a run defender in the offseason. Those strides have been noticeable through four weeks.

CB Ja’Quan McMillian: A big part of Denver’s defensive success has been the secondary, highlighted by strong play from McMillian at nickel cornerback. He plays a physical brand of football that was on display in the first quarter. On third and long, Rodgers tried to hit Allen Lazard, but McMillian blanketed the wideout and broke up the pass. This season McMillian has 21 tackles and allowed a 72 passer rating as the nearest defender, according to Next Gen Stats.

DE John Franklin-Myers: Denver’s defensive end had every reason to smile after Sunday’s contest. With the Jets attempting to reach the end zone in the final seconds of the second quarter, Franklin-Myers sacked Rodgers for a 7-yard loss. Franklin-Myers finished with three tackles and a pair of quarterback hits. He has recorded a sack in back-to-back games. More importantly, his presence up front has taken the attention away from defensive end Zach Allen, creating more opportunities for his teammate to create pressure at a high rate.